Fluid motor



FLUIID MOTOR A n@ www.

f i 7 l29 l Nov.` 18;, 1941. J. E. HALL I FLUID MOTORy f- Fild May 15,i940 5 'sheets-sheet s mvEwToR.

f .esseEHczZZ y LJ f3 Y f v ATTQRNEY.

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 Nautres y 2,263,986 FLUID Moron v Jesse E. Heu,Les Angeles, oeuf., assigner te v Pacific Pump Works, Huntington Park,Calif., l a corporation of-California Application May 15, 1940, SerialNo. 335,291

, 8 Claim's.

`This invention is a fluid motor, the present invention being acontinuation in part of Amy copending applications Ser.V No. 242,750,filed November 28, 1938, and Ser. No. 288,629, led August 5, 1939; y

It is an object of the invention to reciprocate a motor by alternatelyexerting and relieving `fluid pressure in a conduit in which the motoris mounted, with the pressure alternately `supplied and relieved at apointl in the conduit remote from the motor, and withtheqpr'essure-driven accompanying drawings which illustrate variousforms which the invention may assume in prwctice, it .beingA understoodthat the forms which ,y vare shown and described'are for purpose ofilstroke of the reciprocatingmotor in the direction of pressure'supplyand its reverse stroke in th direction of pressure relief.

` It is a further object of the 'invention to adapt `the iluid; pressureof which is alternately exerted and relieved in the conduit, for passagevia said conduit to or fromy apparatus which is` mounted therein forreciprocatioh by the recip-` v rocating motor. 2

It is a still further object of the invention to connect thereciprocating motor and the reciprocatory driven apparatus so that theirstrokes in the same direction are at the same time.

More particularly it is an object of the inven tion to contract `acompression chamber and thereby compress an elastic iluid on thepressuredriven stroke of the reciprocating motor, for

storing energy which upon relief of the pressure iluid expands thecompression chamber for producing the reverse stroke of the motor.

It is a still further object of the invention to` seal the compressionchamber to the pressure fluid throughout the major portion ofcontraction and expansion of the compression chamber;

f but at terminal contraction to preferably open the compression chamberto the pressure fluid in the" event the` pressure in the compressionchamber is less than that of the pressure fluid, and if desired and atterminal expansion of the compression chamber to discharge therefromVinto the pressure fluid in the event the pressure in the compressionchamber exceeds that ortl'iel Further objects of the Iinvention will bereadily understood from the following description ofthe 55 lthe conduitis preferably adapted for passage lustration, and that the invention maybe modi fled and 'is entitled to various forms without.

departing'from thescope of the appended claims. In the drawings: Fig. .lis a diagram of one embodiment of the invention. t Fig. 2 isa similarview showing a modication. l e

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a further modification.

Fig. 4 is an axial section through the upper portion of that form of theinvention which is diagrammed at Fig. l. i Fig. 5 is an axial sectionthrough the lower portion of this form of the invention.'

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6` of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an axial section through the upper portion of that form of theinvention which is diagrammed at Fig. 2. e

Fig. 8 is an axial rsectionthrough the lower Fig. 14 is an axial sectionthrough the control means for the fluid motor.

The invention is applicable to any structure wherein a fluid motor isadapted for reciprocation in a conduit by alternately exerting and t`relieving fluid pressure` in the conduit from a point remote from the`uid motor, with the pressure-driven stroke of the motor in the,.di

rection in which pressure fluid is supplied to motori. and the driven`apparatus which is` adapted Ifor reciprocation in 'the conduit, are

connected so that their strokes inthe same i 'direction are preferablyat the same time; and

of.' ,(the, pressure of which is alternately exerted and relieved) to orfrom the driven apparatus.

- `The invention is particularly applicable and vis therefore describedin connection with an oil well. The motor is mounted at any desiredlevel in a well string for reciprocating a pump, jar or other apparatuswhich -is suspended in the Well string from the'motor, with a control atthey earths surface-supplying or relieving fluid pressure via the wellstring for reciprocating the Dump, and with this fluid'preferablyadapted vfor passage via the well string to or from the drivenapparatus.

At Figs. l to'3, a usual well string l extends from the earth's surfaceinto a well bore; and a reciprocating fluid motor is installed ln thewell string -at any desired level, preferably immediately above theapparatus which ls to be driven by the motor. 1 The driven apparatus isshown as a usual lift pump comprising a valved pump plunger adapted forreciprocation relative to a valved pump barrel which is mounted in thewell string. The reciprocating pump plunger and the reciprocating fluidmotor are connected so that their strokes in ther same direction are atthe same time.

The well string contains a column of fluid, and a control 2 at theearths surface (shown at Fig. 1 but also employed with the modificationsshown at Figs. 2 and 3) provides for alter- Y nately exerting andrelieving pressure on this column of fluid, for reciprocating the uidmotor and its suspended driven apparatus. The column of fluid ispreferably adapted for passage via the well string to or from the drivenapparatus, thereby providing circulation fluid when the driven apparatusis a jar, and constituting thepumped fluid when the driven apparatus isa pump. l

By exerting pressure on the column of fluid Vvia the control 2, the uidmotor and its suspended driven apparatus are driven downwardly in thewell strlng,l thereby contracting a compression chamber for compressingan elastic' fluid. In the illustrated embodiments of the inventionwherein the driven apparatus is a Referring to Fig.v l, the fluid motoris a sleevel 3, closed at its upper end as shown at 4 and adapted forsealed sliding t in a liner 5 which is xed in thev well string, with atube 6 oi' smallerdiameter than the sleeve depending from' the openlower endof the sleeve and adapted for sealed sliding fit in a liner 'lwhich is fixed in the well string in spaced relation below the liner 5.,The lower end of the tube 6 is connected to the apparatus which isadapted for reciproca-tlon by the fluid motor; and the upper end of thetube 8 opens through the wall of the sleeve k3 via a port 9 in the upperportion of the sleeve i which is of Vreduced diameter as shown at I0.

Fluid ls `thus adapted for flow via the bore of the tube 6, toor fromthe driven apparatus which is suspended from the tube. In theillustrated embodiment, wherein the driven apparatus is a lift pump,valved pump plunger Il ls suspended from and communicates with the tube6, and is adapted for reciprocation in valved pump barrel I2 which issuspended from the liner 1 and which is releasably anchored in the wellstring as shown at I3. The pump II-l2 is thus adapted for reciprocationby the fluid motor, for pumping fluid from the well vla the bore of thetube 6 and the port 9 and thence via the well string to the earthssurface.

A compression chamber (for an elastic fluid) is formed in the sleeve 5and in the annular space surrounding the tube 6, with this compressionchamber -sealed by sliding fit of the sleeve 3 and the tube 6 in theliners 5-1 respectively.

In the modification of the invention shown at Fig. 2,' the fluid motorassembly comprises a sleeve 3a adapted forsealed sliding fit on a liner5a which is suspended in the well string from a supporting tube I5a. Thetube I5a extends through a closure 4a at the upper end of the sleeve 3a,and is releasably anchored in the well string as shown at I6a. A linerI'ladepends from. the closure 4a and is adapted for sealed sliding fiton the tube |5a.

Additional motor assemblies, similarv to 3afda-ISa-Ila, may be suspendedin tandem relation one below the other, the illustrated embodimentshowing two motor assemblies desigfrom the liner 5a as shown as IBb.

The apparatus which is to be reciprocated by the iluid` motor issuspended from the sleeve of the lowermost motor assembly, l. e. fromthe sleeve 3b in the illustrated embodiment, with the bore of thisdriven apparatus communicatlng via port `9a with an annular spacebetween the wall of the well string I and the sleeves lla- 3b. Fluid isthus adapted for flow via the port 9a, to or from the driven apparatus.In the `illustrated embodiment, wherein the driven apparatus is a liftpump, valved pump plunger Ila is suspended from the sleeve 3b and isadapted for reciprocation on valved pump barrel I2a which is releasablyanchored in the well string as shown at I3a. The pump is thus adaptedfor reciprocation by the iluid motor, for pumping fluid from the well`via port 9a and thence via the well string to the earths surface.

A compression chamber (for an elastic fluid) 1s formed in each of theannular spaces between the sleeves Ila-3b and their` respective tubesI5a-l5b. These compression chambers are sealed at their upper ends bythe closures 4a- 4b and by sliding fit of the liners Ila-I 1b onl thetubes Ilia-|51, and are sealed at their lower`` ends by sliding t of thesleeves 3cr-3b on the liners 5cl-5b.

yIn the modication of the invention shown at Fig. 3, the fluid motorassembly comprises a sleeve '3c, closed at its upper end as shown at 4c,and adapted for sealed slidingt on a liner 5c which is closed at itslower end and which is mounted in the well stringfon a' supporting rodI'5c so that the liner projects upwardly into the sleeve through theopen lower end of the sleeve. The supporting rod |50 projects upwardlyfrom a transverse spider ISc which extends through longitudinal slots2|c in 4the sleeve 3.` `The e e 2,263,088 i Aspider lee is nxeu to etube zzjwhieh is releasthe fluid motor is suspended from the sleeve of lthe lowermost motor assembly, i. e. from the sleeve 3d in theillustratedembodiment, with the bore of this driven apparatus communicating via theports2ld of the 'sleeve 3d, withan annular space between the tube 22 andthe sleeves 3c-3d. Fluid ls thus adapted for llow via the ports 2id, toor from the driven apparatus. In theV illustrated embodiment, whereinthe drivenapparatus is a lift pump, valved pump plunger llcis suspendedfrom the sleeve 3d andl is adapted for reciprocation on valved pumpplunger |2c which is releasably anchored in the well `string as shown at|3c. The pump is thus adapted for reciprocation by the fluid motor,

for -pumping fluid from the well via ports 2|d and thence via the boreofthe tube 22 and the well string to the earths surface. A

A compression chamber (for elastic fluid) is formed in each of thesleeves 3c-3d, between the closed upper ends of therespective sleevesand the closed lower endsl of 'their cooperating' liners 5c-lid,l withthese compression chambers sealed by sliding flt of the sleeves on theliners.

In each form of'the invention, va compression chamber (or a plurality ofcompression chambers) is thus longitudinally contracted `when the fluidmotor is driven downwardly by pressure exerted downwardly viathe control2 upon a column of fluid in the well string, thereby compressing theelastic fluid in the compression chamber `and downwardly driving thedriven apparatus which is suspended from the fluid motor; and whenpressure of the column of fluid is relieved via the control 2 atl-theearths surface, this up- V ofthe fluid motor, if the elastic fluid inthe com- 1or discharge er wen nula. thereby aiding in said discharge.That form of the invention which is diaf grammed at Fig. 1 is shown indetail at Figs. 4 to l The bore of the sleeve 3 is obstructed at ,thelower end of its diametricaily reduced portion I6 and in spaced`relation above the open lower end of the sleeve. This obstruction,which is shown at 25l is axially bored at 26, with the tube 6 sus?pended from and communicating with this axial bore and with the upperend of the axial bore extending laterally through the obstruction 25 andforming the port 9.

`The obstruction 25 also -has a series of longitudinal. bores 21providing communication between the portions of the-'compressionchamber, i. e. the bore of the sleeve 3, `respectively above and belowtheobstruction.

A bore 28 in the obstruction 25 opens laterally at one end `via a port29 at the outer periphery of the sleeve `3 in spaced relation below itsreduced diameter IIJ, and the other end `of the bore,`

28 communicates with the compression chamber via a check valve 30 which4closes against escape i of pressure from the compression chamber. Theliner 5 has a radially enlarged bore 3| intermediate its ends, so thatthroughout major portion of reciprocation of the fluid motor the port 23is closed by the liner 5, but as the fluid motor approaches terminaldownward travel the port 29 alines with thev enlarged bore 3|', thereby`opening the port to the wellstring via the annular space which surroundsthe reduced diameter Ill of the sleeve 3.

By this arrangement, atv terminal downstroke pression chamber has notbeen compressed to the ward relief Aof pressure permits the compressed`elastic fluid in the compressionichamber to drive the fluid motorupwardly in the well string,

thereby upwardly moving the suspended driven apparatus. rMovement of`the fluid motor and the driven apparatus is thus in the` direction ofdownward pressure via the'well string and then rection of flow of thecolumn of well fluid during the discharge stroke of the pump, coincideswith the direction in' which pressure of the column of fluid is beingrelieved via the control 2.

Furthermore, when pumping well fluid, the column of fluid will have someslight inherentelasin the direction of upward relief of pressure via lvalve seat 43 inthe bore vor' the sleeve 3, with'the tlcity due togaseousA constituents being present with the oil. Therefore, while theAcolumn ofl fluid will be sufllciently non-compressible to in- `suredownward stroke of the fluid motor and the pump when pressure is exertedvia thecontrol 2, the slight inherent compression of the` fluid willcause some expansion upon relief of` pressure via the control 2, andthis expansion i will be in the direction of upwardstroke of the fluidmotor and the pump, l. e'. in the direction pressure exerted via thecontrol 2 on the column of fluid in Athe well string, fluid from thewell against escape of pressure from the compression i chamber. p

Means are preferably provided whereby prior to lowering the fluid motorinto a well, its compression chambermay be precharged.` For thispurpose, the upper portion of the sleeve 3 forms a precharge chamber 32below the closure 4 andl i adapted for detachable mounting on the mainportion ofthe `sleeve 3 as shown at 34. A valve 35 is movable inthe boreof the precharge cham ber for engagingor disengaginga cooperating'project upwardly from the valve and which terminate in heads 4| whichv`normally engage a shoulder 33 in the bore of the chamber 32.`

Prior to mounting the precharge chamber on `the sleeve 3, thevalve 35and its spring fingers e 36 are grippedlbeing accessible through theopen lowerend of the detached precharge chamber); the fingers 36 beingcontracted so as to release the heads 4| from the `shoulder 33 and thevalve 35 being moved toward the lower end of the precharge chamber, sothat when the precharge chamber is then` mounted on the sleeve 3 thevalve 35 engages its` cooperating seat 43 and closes the prechargechamber.

Fluid under pressure is then supplied to the n lished therein. lThenipple 31 is then preferablyy closed by an element 39which providesareadily releasable connection whereby the iiuid motor and its suspendeddriven apparatus may be lowered into or withdrawn from a weil.

As the uid motor is lowered through a column of fluid standing in thewell string, the hydrostatic head oi the column of fluid compresses thei air which is trapped in the compression chamber below its prechargechamber 32; and the precharge ypressure in chamber 32-is such that whenthe fluid motor has been lowered to desired level,

ready for operation, the pressure of ythis compressed air exceeds thepressure in the precharge chamber and thus shifts the valve 35 'so as todisengage itfrom its seat 43. The valve 35 is thus opened, and isreleasably locked in open position bythe heads 4| of the spring ngers 36'engaging the shoulders 33. Pressures in the chamber 32 and in the mainportion of the comther compressing the elastic iluid in the compressionchamber; and upon relief of pressure ofthe column of fluid in the wellstring, the compressed elasticfiuid in the compression chamber expandsand thus drives the fluid motor upwardly in the well string.

The liner 5 is preferably fixed in a length 40 of the well string:whereas the liner 1 and the pump barrel `I2 are preferably adapted forinsertion and withdrawal along with the fluid motor and its suspendedpump plunger Il.

As an instance, the liner 1 is fixed in tubing 42 which is mounted inthe well string below the liner 5, with the pump barrel `I2 suspendedfrom the liner 1 and releasably anchored in the well string at i3; andthe tubing 42 and its suspended parts are of a diameter to clear thebore ofthe liner 5 for insertion or withdrawal through the well string.s

A collar 44 is provided on the tube 5, and the bore of the tubing 42clears the collar 44 except that an annular shoulder 45 in the bore ofthe tubing 42 at its upper end, is adapted to seat on they collar 44while ythe fluid motor is being lowered into and withdrawn from thewell, where-` by the tubing 42 and its suspended parts are suspendedfrom the fluid motor. After the tubing 42 has been lowered tov operativeposition, the

. fluid motorA is lowered relative thereto so that during reciprocationof the iiuid motor the collar 44 is spaced below the shoulder 45.

A check valve 41 which closes against downward pressureis preferablyprovidedin the bore of the tube 6, and a lateral port 48 is provided inthe wall of the tube 6 below this check valve, with the pump plunger -IIsuspended from the l pression chamber are thus equalized; and theV lowerend of the tube 8 as shown at 46. The 75 lateral port 48 is sopositioned that throughout major portion of reciprocation of the fluidmotor the port 4 8 is closed by the liner 1, but at terminal i upstrokeof the fluid motor the port is opened to the annular space between thetube 8 and the bore of the tubing 42. This annular space forms acontinuation of the compression chamber of the fluid motor, via the boreof the shoulder 45. By this arrangement, at terminal upstroke of the`fluid motor, if the pressure of the elastic fluid 1n the compressionchamber has not been reduced to the relieved pressure in the wellstring. fluid from the compression chamber discharges via the port 48and the check valve 41 into the upper portion of the tube 8 and thencevia port 8 into the well string, until the pressures are equalized;

and ywhen pressure is again exerted on the 'iiuld in the well string fordownward stroke of the iiuid motor, the check valve 41 closes so thatelastic fluid is again compressed in the compression chamber.

The ports 29-48 are positioned so as to equalize pressures and thusterminate and cushion reciprocation of the fluid motor short ofvengagement of the lower end of the sleeve 8 with the'uppe'r end of thetubing 42 at terminal downstroke of the motor, and short of engagementVof the collar 44 with the shoulder 45 at terminal upstroke of themotor.V Additional means are preferably provided for cushioning andterminating abnormal downstroke of the motor.

For this purpose, a collar 50 may depend from the open lower end of thesleeve 3 in radially spaced relation from the tube 6, with the collar ofexternal diameter adapting it for close sliding reception in a bore 5Ioi' the tubing` 42, above its shoulder 45. Throughout operation of theuid motor the elastic fluid in the upper'portion of its compressionchamber is sealed by the well liquid which during lowering of the fluidmotor into the well has been trapped in that portion lof the compressionchamber which is formed by the bore of the tubing 42 and by the annularspace below the vsleeve 3 and surrounding the tube 6. This liquid isnormally free to enter the sleeve 3 during downstroke of the fluidmotor, but in the event of abnormal downstroke such as would telescopethe collar 50 in the bore 5|, flow of this liquid is restricted, therebycushioning and terminating abnormal downstroke.

'That form of the invention which is dia-A by the same referencenumerals with the exponents a and b respectively. Except as hereinafternoted, the following description oi' the sleeve and liner assembly 3a5awill therefore be understood as applicable when theuid motor comprisesonly this one sleeve and liner assembly, or when it comprises aplurality of sleeve and liner assemblies in tandem relation.

'I'he ends of the bore of the liner 5a are closed by caps 55u-58a, andthe lower end ofsthe sleeve 3a (below its cooperating liner)communicates via ports 51a with the annular space between the sleeve andthe surrounding well string. The-supporting tube |5a is connected to andcommunicates with the bore of the liner 5a via the upper cap 55a.

When the fluid motor comprises only one sleeve and liner assembly, thelower cap of the liner completely closes the lower end of the bore ofthe liner; but when a. plurality of sleeve and liner assemblies areemployed in tandem relation (as `illustrated), the bore of the liner acommunicates via its cap 56a with the depending supporting -tube I5b forthe next lower liner' 5b,

and only the cap 56h of the lowermost liner completely closes thebore ofits liner. The annular space which is above the "uppermost sleeve andliner assembly 30P-5a` and' which surrounds the supporting tube I5a, isa continuationof the `annular spacev between the one or more sleeve 58in the coupling Ia, with the annular space which is above the sleeve andliner assembly 3b-5b` and which surrounds the supporting tube lib. Theannular space between the one or more sleeve and liner assemblies andthe surrounding well string, communicates via the bore of the anchoringmeans'la with the upper portion of the well string; and when the fluidmotor is assembled the anchoring means Ita forms a detachable closurefor the upper end of the supporting tube for the liner of theuppermostsleeve and liner assembly, i. e. for the supporting tube lia.

Returning to detailed description of" only one sleeve and linerassembly,A i. e. the sleeve andliner assembly 3d-5a, and whichdescription is also applicable to. additional sleeve and linerassemblies such as shown at. 3b-5b; the bore of the lliner 5a isobstructed as' shown yat 25a, and

sleeve between its closure 4a and its liner cap` 55a. A series of bores21a open longitudinally through the obstruction 25a, for communicationThe obstruction 25a is also axially bored as shown at 28a, with thelower end of this axial bore communicating/with the lower portion of thebore of the liner 5a, andwith the upper end of the axial bore openinglaterally through the obstruction 25a at the reduced diameter 59a, as

shown at 63a, for communication with the com- 63a, until the pressuresare equalized; and upon relief of pressure in the well string, forupward stroke fof the fluid motor responsive to expansion of thecompressed elastic fluid inthe compression chamber, the 'check valve 30acloses against escape of pressure from the compression chamber.

Before lowering the uid motor into the well, the compression chamber inthe sleeve 3a is preterably precharged. For this purpose, with the partsassembled except for suspending the tube I5a from its anchoring meansIGa, and with the liner Ila closing the port 23a, uid under pressure issupplied to the open upper end of the tube lia' and enters thecompression chamber y in vthe sleeve 3a, via l5a-21w-28a-30a-83a. y

A ir which is trapped yin the compression chamf ber is thus compressedto any desired precharge pressure, with escape of this 4prechargepressure' prevented by the check valve 30a. i

When a plurality of sleeve and liner assemblies are employed in tandemrelation. the precharge pressure which isA supplied via tube I5a` Whenthe fluid motor has been precharged, the

' tube 45a is suspended from its anchoring means `|6a, and .by means ofan element 39a which is flxed to the anchoring' means la and which isadapted for releasable engagement by a cable or the like, the entire"assembly is lowered through between the lower portion of the bore of'the .liner 5a and the bore of its supporting tube I5a.

a column of fluid standing in the well string. The entire assembly maybeloweredas a unit,

since the Vone or more liners Sav-5b are suspended illustratedembodiment,` with the pump barrel |2a suspended from a shoulderila ofthe pump plunger. `After the pump i barrel Iza has been means Ita`releasably anchors the same in the pression chamber of the sleeve 3a. Acheck valve;

30a in the bore 28a, closes against escape of pressure from thecompression chamber.`

The bore of the closure la (through which the supporting tube 15aextends) and lthe upper end of the bore of the liner/Ila are radiallyenlarged as `shown at 31a so as to provide clearance surrounding thetube lia; and a lateral port 29a is provided in the tube I5a so thatthroughout major portion of reciprocation of the 1fluid motor the port29a is closed by the liner lla, lbutas the fluid motor approachesterminal downwardv travel the enlarged `bore Bla alines with the port29a, thereby opening ,the 'port 29a to the bore of the well string. e t

By this arrangement, at terminal downstroke of the fluid motor, ,if theelastic fluid in the compression chamber which is formed in the upperportion of the bore ofthe sleeve 3a, has not been compressed to thepressure exerted via,the'

releasably anchored in the well string at |3a,

Vcontinued downward movement of the anchoring well string as shown at62.

The fluid motor is then adapted for actuation` as previously described,i. e. thepressure of the column `of fluid in the well stringis'increased via the control 2 to drive the fluid motor 3a (or 3a-3b)downwardly relative to its anchored liner 5a` (or EaP-5b) therebyfurther compressing the elastic fluid in the one or more compressionchambers; and upon relief of pressure of ,the

vcolumn of fluid in the well string,` the compressed elastic fiuid intheone or more compression chambers expands and thus drives the iiuid motor3a (or string. f

The port :sa is positioned so as to equalizel and terminatingabnormalreciprocation of'the motor.

For this purpose, at abnormal reciprocation of the fluid motorgflow of,uid is restricted inthe 3cr-3b) upwardly in the well` alternatelylongitudinally contracting and expanding space which when the motorcomprises,

only one sleeve and liner assembly is 'defined by the bore of the sleevestructure between the closure at its lower end and the lower end of itscooperating liner, and which when the motor comprises a plurality ofsleeve and liner assemblies (as'illustrated) is defined by the bore ofthe sleeve structure between its closure 60 and the cap 56h and alsobetween the closure 4b and the cap 66a. This ow of fluid is via ports51a (and also via ports A .'ilb and 58 when a plurality of sleeve andliner assemblies are employed) and flow of vfluid in this alternatelycontracting and expanding spaceis unrestricted during normalreciprocation of the fluid motor.

In thev event of abnormal downstroke, cooperating collars which arerespectively fixed to the reciprocating sleeve .structure and to thestationary liner structure are adapted for snug telescop'ic engagementfor restricting this free flow Vof fluid. As an instance, intheillustrated embodiment 'which includes the coupling sleeve Ia,

an annulus 65 is fixed' in the ,b ore of the sleeve structure betweenthe sleeve 3a and the sleev'e cap 56a closes thelower end of the liner5c, with the supporting rod I5c ilxed to this closure cap. The cap 56ehas an axial bore 28c, one end of .which opens laterally through the capinto an annular groove 3Ic at the periphery of the cap, and the otherend of the bore 28e communicates via a check valve 30e with theycompression chamber which is formed in the bore of the sleeve 3c andinthe bore of its liner 5c. The check valve 30e closes against escape ofpressure from the compression chamber.

|The sleeve 3c has a port 29e, so positioned that throughout majorportion of reciprocation of I8a, and a collar 66 depends from the innerperiphery of the annulus 65 and surrounds the tube I5b so as to.radially-clear the same for free flow of fluid through the bore of theannulus. A second annulus 61 is xed to the tube I5b, and a collar 68extends upwardly from the outer periphery of the annulus 61 forrelatively y snug sliding reception in the bore of the. sleeve I 8a. Thecollars 66-68 are longitudinally spaced during normal reciprocation ofthe fluid motor, but at abnormal downstroke the collar 66 snuglytelescopes in the vcollar 68 which in turn fits relatively snugly in thebore of the sleeve l8a, thereby restricting free flow of fluid in thealternately longitudinally .contracting and expanding space which isdeilned by the bore of the sleeve the iluid motor the port 29e is closedby the liner 5c, but as the fluid motor approaches terminal downwardtravel the port 29o alines with the annular groove 3Ic, thereby openingthe bore 28e to the annular space between the sleeve 3c andthesurrounding tube 22. This annular space is open at its upper end to thatportion of the well string'which is above the anchoring means 23.

By this arrangement, at terminal downstroke of the fluid motor, if theelastic fluid in the compression chamber has not been compressed to thepressure exerted via the control 2 on the column of -iluid in the wellstring, fluid from the well string enters the compression chamber via29c-28c30c, until the pressures are equalized; and upon relief ofpressure in the well string, for upward stroke of the iluid motor'responsive to expansion ofthe fluid in the compression chamber, thecheck valve 30c closes against escape of pressure from the compressionchamber.

The compression chamber is preferably precharged prior to lowering thefluid motor into a well. For this purpose, fluid under pressure issupplied to the compression chamber via a pressure supply nipple 31ewhich is formed in structure, and thus cushioning and terminatingvabnormal downstroke of the fluid motor.

In the event of abnormal upstroke of the fluid motor, its sleevestructure is adapted for snug telescopic reception on its cooperatingliner structure so as to restrict' ow of fluid via the ports 51a (or viathe ports 51a and 58 when a plurality of sleeve and liner assemblies areemployed).

As an instance, in the illustrated embodiment which includes thecoupling sleeve 18a, the ports its collar 68. Flow of fluid via theports Sla-#58 is thus restricted at these snug telescopic engagements,thereby cushioning and terminating abnormal upstroke of the uid motor.

VThat form of the invention which is diagrammedat Fig. 3 is shown indetail at Figs. 10

'to 13; the detailed construction of the sleeve and liner assembly 3o-5cand of the sleeve and .liner assembly 3d5d being similar, withcorresponding parts designated by the same reference numerals with theexponentsc and d respectively; and therefore the following detaileddescription of the sleeve and Vliner assembly 3c-5e is also applicable`to the sleeve and liner assemb'ly Sit-6d. y

'51a-51b-58 are unrestricted throughout northe closure 4c and which hasa check valve 38e for preventing escape of pressure from the compressionchamber. Air in the compression chamber may thus be compressed to anydesired precharge pressure, and the nipple 31a is then preferably closedas shown at 39e. When the iluid motor comprises more than one sleeve andliner assembly, each lower sleeve and liner assembly iid-5dl isprecharged via its nipple 31d, before suspending it by its coupling Iscfrom the next upper sleeve and liner assembly.

With the parts assembled, the entire structure may be lowered as a unitinto a column of fluid standing in the well string, with thellinerstructure supported by the tube 22 and with the sleevestructuresuspended relative to its liner structure by the compressedelastic fluid in the one or more compression chambers, and with the pump.plunger I la suspended from the sleeve structure and in turn suspendingthe pump barrel |20 from a shoulder Slc of the pump plunger. When thepump barrel I2c has been anchored at l3c, continued downward movement ofthe assembled structure releasably anchors the tube 22 in the wellstring at 23.

The iluid lmotor is then adapted` for operation as previously described,i. e.'pressure exerted via control 2 on the column of fluid in the wellstring drives the sleeve structure downwardly relative to the stationaryliner structure, thereby further compressing the elastic uid in the oneor more compression chambers; and upon relief of pressure on the columnof fluid in the well string, the'compressed elastic fluid expands anddrives the sleeve structure upwardly in the well string.

fn each form of the invention as described, the fluid motor is thusadapted for actuation by alternately exerting and relieving .pressure ona column `of fluid in the well string; and, this column of fluid, in th1illustrated embodiments of the invention, is the fluid which is to -bepumped from the wellby the pump which is operatively suspended from theiluid motor.` The control `2 at the earths surface alternately suppliesfluidl tothe well string (for increasing pressure ofthe column of fluid)and discharges fluid` from the well (for relieving pressure of thecolumn of fluid). y i y As an instance, and asshown in detail at Fig,14, a piston valve 18 at the earths surface is adapted for reciprocationfor alternately opening conduits 1'I--12 to a conduit 13 whichcommunicates with the wellstring l;` and the conduits ll-1,2;respectively communicate with a source of fluid under pressure and withstorage for said fluid. This fluid preferably has some slight inherentelasticity but is sumciently noncompressibleI to insure downstroke ofthefluid e string via valve 18, until this pressure overcomes fpredetermined resistance, whereupon the `preslgl sure shifts the valve18 to its opposite limit of travel `for relieving pressure in the wellstring via the valve 18, with the valve 18 then remaining in this lastmentioned position until predetermined relief of pressure in the wellstring.

As an instance, a piston 82is xed to the` valve V 18 and'is adapted forreciprocation in a cylinder trated embodiment, this yieldable forceisshown 83; and a valve .84 is iixed to the piston 82 and controls aconduitf85'which provides communi- `cation between the conduit 18 andthe cylinder 83. A force which may be adjusted, yieldably resistsshifting of the piston 82 and the valve 18 from the position shown atFig. 14, in which position the valve 84 closes the conduit 85; and

the valvearea at 84 is appreciably smaller than the pressure area of thepiston 82. In the illusas a. spring 85, which is adjustable as shown atmotor when the-fluid vis supplied to the well.

`conduit 85 communicates.

communicate with the respective ends 'of the piston valve, and this uidpressure for reciprocaty ingthe piston valve may be pressure of thefluid which is supplied via the conduit 1l.` As an instance, a pilotvalve 18 is adapted for reciprocation so that when'at one limit oftravel as shown at Fig. 14, aconduit13 which communicates with theconduit 1 I` is open to the conduit 11 for shiftingthe valve 18 to theposition shown, with the conduit 184open to a conduit 88 whichcommunicates with the conduit 12, for relieving pressureat the oppositeend of the piston 10. Pressure is thus supplied Yto conduit 18 from theconduit 1I, for building up pressure in the well string.

A relief conduit 81 is open to that end of the cylinder 88 with whichthe conduit 85 communicates; and a relief conduit 88 is closed/by thepiston 82;when the piston is in the position shown at Fig. 14, but whenthe piston is at its opposite limit of tra'vel the conduit 88 is open tothat end of the cylinder 88 `with which the The relief conduits 81--88may be connected to the conduit 12. A relief conduit 88 which isregulated by a `valve 80, may open tothe atmosphere at ,the` end of thecylinder 88 which is opposite the conduit 85.`

When the piston 82 and the valve 18 are in the position shown at Fig.14, the valve 84 closes theA conduit 85 and thevalve 18 supplies fluidunder pressure tothe well string. The spring 88 will have been adjustedto yield andV open the valve 84 when predetermined pressure lsexertedvia conduit 85 against the restricted area of this valve, i. e.when predetermined pressure has been built up inthe well string; andwhen the valve 84 opens, the pressure in the well string is exerted viaconduit 85 against the relatively large area of the piston 82, therebyshifting the piston and the valve 18 `to their opposite limit of traveland thus shifting the valve 10 so as l to relievefpressure in the wellstring. The pis- When predetermined pressure has been` attained in thewell string (for` downstroke of the iiuid motor and compression ofelastic iluid in its compression chamber) the valve 18 is shiftedconduit 15, forshifting thevalve 18' to its opposite limit of'travel.Pressure in thewell string is ton 82 and the valve 18 then 4remainin'their last mentioned position until pressure in the Y well string hasbeen so reduced that pressure via the conduit 85 against the relativelylarge area of the piston 82 is overcome by the tension of the spring 86,thereby returning the piston 82 and the valve 18 tothe position shown atFig.

i 14 and thus shifting the valve 11| `so as to again thus relieved viathe communicating conduits 18--12 (for driving the fluid motor upwardlyby expansion of the compressed -elastic fluid in its compressionchamber);` and in the illustratedl embodiments wherein the fluid motoroperates a lpump, the pumped fluid is discharged via these peating thecycle of operation. The valve 18 is adapted for automatic operation, e.g. it remains in the position shown at Fig. 14 for building up pressureinthe well supply fluid under pressure to the well string for repeatingthe cycle` of operation I claim: e

1. In combination, a; conduit, a liner in the conduit, a plunger exposedat one end to the bore of the conduit and having sealed slidingengagement with the liner, a compression chamber defined andnormallyclosed to the Vbore of the conduit by the liner and the plunger,means for alternately exerting and relieving fluid pressure via the boreof theAconduit', the plunger beingslidable responsive to said fluidpressure,

in direction contracting and creating pressure' in the compressionchamber, the plunger being slidable in the opposite direction uponrelief of fluid pressure in the bore of the conduit and responsive topressure in the compresison chamber, a passageway providingcommunication between the bore of the conduit vand the compressionchamber at terminal sliding of the plunger, and means permitting iiowvia the pas- Y sageway in only one direction. 2. In combination, aconduit, a liner in the conduit, a plunger exposed at one end to thebore of the conduit andhaving sealed sliding engagement with the liner,a compression champassageways respectively providing 'communica-4' tionbetween the bore of the conduit and the compression chamber at terminalsliding of the plunger in opposite directions, and means permittingow`via each passageway in only one l direction.

3. In combination, a conduit, a. liner in the conduit, a plunger exposedat one end .to the bore of the conduit'and having sealed slidingengagement with the liner, a compression chamber defined and closed tothe bore of the conduit by the liner and the plunger, means-foralternately exerting and relieving iuid pressure via the bore of theconduit, the plunger being slidable responsive to said fluid. pressure,in direction` contracting and creating pressure `in the compressionchamber, the plunger beingslidable in the. opposite direction uponrelief of fluid pressure in the bore of the conduit and responsive topressure'in the compression chamber, an auxiliary chamber, means forprecharging the auxiliary chamber with iluid under pressure, and a.valve controlling communication between the auxiliarychamber and the`compression chamber and tending to open and close respectivelyresponsive to pressure in the compression chamber andinthe auxiliarychamber.

4. In combination, a conduit, a liner" in the conduit, a plunger exposedat one end to the bore of the conduit and having sealed slidingengagement with the liner, a compression chamber defined and closed tothe bore of the conduit by the liner and the plunger, means for.alternately exerting and relieving iluid pressure via the bore oftheconduit, the plunger being slidable responsive to said fluidpressure, in direction contracting and creating pressure in thecompression chamber, the plunger being slidable in the oppositedirection upon relief of iluid pressure in the bore of the conduit andresponsive to pressure in the compression chamber, an auxiliary chamber,means for precharging the auxiliary chamber with iluid under pressure, avalve controlling communication between the auxiliary Vchamber and thecompression chamber and tending to open and close respectivelyresponsive to pressure in the compression chamber and in thel auxiliarychamber, and means' operative responsive to opening the valve forretaining the same in open position.

5. In combination, a conduit, -a plurality of liners longitudinallyspaced in the conduit in radially spaced 'relation from the wallthereof, a

plurality of plunger sleeves suspendedfrom one another and each exposedat one end to the bore of the conduit and havingsealedsliding engagementon the respective liners, a compression chamber deilned and closed tothebore of the conduit by each of the associated liners and plungersleeves, means for alternately exerting and relieving iiuid pressure.via the bore of the conduit, the plunger sleeves being slidableresponsive to said fluid pressure, in direction contracting and creatingpressure in the compression chambers, andthe plunger sleeves beingslidable in the opposite direction upon relief of iluid pressure in thebore'of the conduit and responsiveto pressure in the compressionchambers.

6. In combination, a conduit, a pair of liners one beyond the other inthe conduit and having bores of different diameter, a plunger havingends of different diameter for sealed sliding engagement in the bores ofthe respective liners, a compression chamber radially defined by theliner of larger diameter and the plunger-end of smaller diameter, andclosed at its ends to the bore of the. conduit by the plunger-end oflarger diameter and the proximate end of the liner of smaller diameter,the plunger-end of larger diameter being exposed to the bore of theconduit,

means for alternately exerting and relieving iiuid pressure via the boreof the conduit, the plunger being slidable responsive to said uidpressure,

in direction contracting and creating pressuresageway closing againstreverse iiow via the passageway.

7. In combination, a conduit, a liner, means suspending the liner in theconduit in radially spaced relation from the wall thereof, a plungercomprising a. head and a depending sleeve, the plunger head beingexposed to the bore of the conduit and having sealed slidable engagementon the suspension means, the plunger sleeve having sealed slidingengagement on the liner, a compression chamber deiined and closed to thebore of the conduit by the plunger and the liner, means for alternatelyexerting and relieving iiuid pressure via the bore of the conduit, theplunger being slidable responsive to said fluid pressure, in directioncontracting and creating pressure in the compression chamber, theplunger being slidable in the opposite direction upon relief of uidpressure -in the bore of the conduit and responsive to pressure in thecompression chamber, a passageway via the liner, normally closed by the`plunger head but providing for ow from the bore of the conduit to thecompression chamber at terminal slidingof the plunger in the iirstmentioned direction, and a. check valve in the passageway closingagainst reverse ow via the passageway.

8. In combination, a conduit, radial supporting means in the bore of theconduit, a liner projecting upwardly from the supporting means inradially spaced relation from the wall of the conduit, a plungercomprising a head and a depending sleeve, the plunger head being exposedto the bore of the conduit, the plunger sleeve having sealed slidingengagement on the liner, a compression chamber deilned and closed to thebore of the conduit by the plunger and the liner, means for alternatelyexerting and relieving iiuid n p '2,263,086 9 pressure via the bore ofthe conduit, the plunger being slidable responsive to said iluidpressure, in

direction contracting and creating pressure 1n the compression chamber,the plunger being slidable 1n the opposite direction upon relief of uidpressure in vthe bore of the conduit and responsive to pressure in thecompression chamber, i

a passageway via the liner, normally closed by the plunger sleeve butproviding forfo'w from the bore o1' the conduit to the compressionchamber at `terminal sliding of the plunger in the rst mentioneddirectiom and a check valve` in the passageway closingagainst reverseflow via the passageway. v

e UESSE E. HALL.

